Apparatus and method for irrigating plants

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus which is particularly designed to irrigate an indoor plant, such as a pot plant. The apparatus comprises a housing containing component which is arranged to be mounted in the pot plant's soil. The components include a Peltier device, which is arranged to condense water from ambient air, and a vibrating device arranged to vibrate a surface to facilitate water nm-off into the soil. The apparatus also includes a communication arrangement which is arranged to communicate with a remote device such as a smartphone or tablet. An application on the smartphone or tablet can be used to control the irrigation apparatus and also provide information on the status of the apparatus and the plant being irrigated to a user of the application.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . An apparatus for irrigating a plant comprising a device for obtaining water from ambient air and comprising a substrate on which the water is condensed, and a vibrator mechanism for vibrating the substrate to facilitate water run-off from the substrate for delivery to soil for irrigating a plant. 
     
     
         24 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 23 , comprising a controller arranged to control the device to regulate the amount of water obtained. 
     
     
         25 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 23 , comprising a controller arranged to control the vibrator mechanism to regulate the delivery of water to the soil. 
     
     
         26 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 24 , comprising a moisture sensor for determining moisture levels of the soil, the controller being responsive to determination of moisture level to control the amount of water obtained and/or delivered to the soil. 
     
     
         27 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 23 , comprising a communications arrangement for communication with a remote device, communication including communicating data relating to information on operation of the apparatus. 
     
     
         28 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein the communications arrangement is arranged to receive control instructions from the remote device to control the apparatus. 
     
     
         29 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 23 , comprising a housing mounting the device for obtaining water, the housing comprising one or more prongs which are arranged to be positioned within the soil to secure the apparatus with respect to the soil and plant. 
     
     
         30 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 23 , wherein the device for obtaining water comprises a Peltier device and the apparatus further comprises a fan arranged to draw air through the Peltier device. 
     
     
         31 . A method for irrigating domestic plants, comprising the steps of obtaining water from ambient air by condensing water on a substrate, and vibrating the substrate to facilitate delivery of water to the plant(s). 
     
     
         32 . A computing device, comprising a processor, a memory, and an operating system for implementing computer processes, a plant monitoring process arranged to exchange data with an apparatus in accordance with  claim 23 , for receiving information on the status of the apparatus. 
     
     
         33 . A device in accordance with  claim 32 , wherein the plant monitoring process is arranged to control the apparatus by way of data to the apparatus.